Why do these *******s think they have any authority over pharmacy staff? The only person that can tell me what to do at the pharmacy is the pharmacist. So when the pharmacist tells me I can wear jeans, I'm going to ****ing wear jeans, who gives a **** what the store manager says and thinks.

I'm not gonna look around to see if customers are stealing, that's why you should hire a ****ing security guard.

And no, I'm not going to leave my shift to escort you down to the bank. Take one of your ****ing 16 year olds with you.

And no, I'm not gonna let you check my backpack, only the pharmacist is going to do that.

Ever since this new douchebag assistant manager has been hired, cash drawers in the pharmacy have consistently been short. I think this is more than just a coincidence.

Sounds like CVS has some issues(which I have heard a lot of). Well, if you don't mind I'll throw in my two cents....

I am currently an Assistant Mgr for Walgreens(3 years-25yrs old), as well an aspiring Pharm D student (applying in August). I am not 100% sure if CVS follows the same methods of Management/Supervision that Walgreens does, but I will assume it is close. At Walgreens, the Store Manager and Pharmacy Manager(head pharmacist) are equal in authority, but the Store Manager has final say when push comes to shove. They work together to generate sales, profits, manage staff and so forth. Typically, the Pharmacy Manager deals directly with the Pharmacy staff(Pharmacists and Techs), while the Store Manager deals directly with the Sales floor(clerks, assistant mgrs, etc). But, the Store Manager and Assistant Managers do have the authority to discipline, manage and oversee the Pharmacy staff at Walgreens if needed.

Like I said, the Store Manager has the final say over the Pharmacy Manager, Pharmacists and so forth...since it is their store. But, those kind of power struggles rarely happen, and 99% of the time the Pharmacy Manager(head pharmacist) and Store Manager always find a common ground or compromise if their is a disagreement.

In retail settings, the Pharmacy Department seems like a completely isolated environment, seperate from the store and it's operations. But, the Pharmacy is still part of that store, and ultimately has to follow the guidelines set forth by that Store Manager. The Store Manager typically lets the Pharmacy Manager do his/her thing, and the Store Manager does his/her thing. Occasionally we have to talk to the Pharmacy Manager to pass on important information to his/her staff.

As Assistant Managers, we basically share the same authority as the Store Manager...unless we are completely out of line on something.

Sounds like this new Assistant Manager is on a power trip and is trying to muscle his way around. That's not uncommon, and I have seen that a bunch of times. He'll have to learn that in Retail settings, the Rx Department pretty much operates itself, while the Sales floor does it's own thing too.

This is one of the reasons why I am leaving the Management direction in pursuit of Pharmacy. First off Pharmacy is more appealing to me, and I enjoy helping people. Secondly, it is a more respected profession with more educated minds involved. I have crossed paths with countless number of poorly educated, incompetent, ignorant and power hungry Managers. The majority of them don't have much of a future beyond Management, and are desperate and insecure about their jobs.

That's complete bull. If some pissant store manager tried to tell me what to do, I'd tell him to go **** himself. I didn't go to school for 7 years for some bumble**** with an inferior degree in business, if that, to tell me what's what. Just ignore him. What are they going to do? Nothing. Anyway....hence, I'm not in retail.

If you are mad because the assistant manager told you not to wear jeans, you need to rethink things. This is strictly CVS policy and policy everywhere else. Even if your pharmacists says that you can, you cant. Your pharmacists cant either (with the exception of truck day and weekends). This is a professional workplace and thus are require to dress up professionally.

Concerning your backbags, EVERYBODY that is a store staff - pharmacist, assistant manager, manager, and security guard has a right to check your bags. This is not only CVS policy but retail policy in general. This is their store and employee thrift is one of the major problems that we have unfortunely.

I AGREE with you on everything else(ie security checks, accompanying somebody to the bank???, etc). Those are strictly front end business and the manager should use front end hours for that.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should talk it over with your supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager. I guarantee you that no matter what your pharmacists say, your manager can well write you up and get you fired. Remember that the only say a pharmacist really have is the practice of pharmacy itself.

Sparda, I know that we talked about this before. You never know where your future might be. In NYC, Walgreens and CVS is the lesser of evils. They are the only companies who can offer good job stability, advancement, and decent + fair wages. Even though you want want to practice somewhere else, it is best for you to take this job as a real job (like in any other environment) and work hard. Your job, like I said before, is not "guaranteed".

If you are mad because the assistant manager told you not to wear jeans, you need to rethink things. This is strictly CVS policy and policy everywhere else. Even if your pharmacists says that you can, you cant. Your pharmacists cant either (with the exception of truck day and weekends). This is a professional workplace and thus are require to dress up professionally.

Concerning your backbags, EVERYBODY that is a store staff - pharmacist, assistant manager, manager, and security guard has a right to check your bags. This is not only CVS policy but retail policy in general. This is their store and employee thrift is one of the major problems that we have unfortunely.

I AGREE with you on everything else(ie security checks, accompanying somebody to the bank???, etc). Those are strictly front end business and the manager should use front end hours for that.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should talk it over with your supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager. I guarantee you that no matter what your pharmacists say, your manager can well write you up and get you fired. Remember that the only say a pharmacist really have is the practice of pharmacy itself.

Sparda, I know that we talked about this before. You never know where your future might be. In NYC, Walgreens and CVS is the lesser of evils. They are the only companies who can offer good job stability, advancement, and decent + fair wages. Even though you want want to practice somewhere else, it is best for you to take this job as a real job (like in any other environment) and work hard. Your job, like I said before, is not "guaranteed".

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I only work on weekends.

And why do I want to wear jeans? Because I look better in a shirt + tie + jeans than I do in a shirt + tie + slacks. That and I read an article a few months back in one of the Pharmacy publications where the author (a pharmacist), said that most patients/customers felt more comfortable with him when he was wearing jeans.

The pharmacists I've worked for have all worn jeans themselves. So it's funny how the assistant manager has the balls to tell me not to wear jeans but won't go as far as telling the pharmacists.

Yeah, and if he doesn't submit my time it's lawsuit time.

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sorry but that is ridiculous. Jeans do not give the appearance of professionalism. My partner and I are always dressed professionally (pressed shirt, tie, and slacks) and believe me the patients do notice. To me, wearing jeans just give the "appearance" of laziness and we all now how appearance is perceived by the public. Im surprised the DM's havent been in there to put a stop to "jeans".

And why do I want to wear jeans? Because I look better in a shirt + tie + jeans than I do in a shirt + tie + slacks. That and I read an article a few months back in one of the Pharmacy publications where the author (a pharmacist), said that most patients/customers felt more comfortable with him when he was wearing jeans.

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I hardly doubt this article had any statistical significance at all Your pharmacists seem to be the douchebags and believe me, im one to not get along with the front store, but jeans in the pharmacy, i have to side with the douchebag assistant manager. And professionalism is not overrated. most patients will respond positively to a professionally dressed pharmacist.

My asst. store manager gets pissy all the time about things I think are petty, some people are just into that...I'm paid enough to not really care. You will be soon! It's easier to ignore yapping when you get to drive home to your house made of money.

Today asst. manager will be freaking out about something like where to put the holiday Chia pets, and I'll be ignoring them trying to figure out how to help deaf old people with Medicare Part D selection-the next few weeks are going to suck with part D enrolling for '09.

And why do I want to wear jeans? Because I look better in a shirt + tie + jeans than I do in a shirt + tie + slacks. That and I read an article a few months back in one of the Pharmacy publications where the author (a pharmacist), said that most patients/customers felt more comfortable with him when he was wearing jeans.

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Are you going to base your future clinical decisions on the opinion of one pharmacist in a magazine too?

Let's not forget the most important thing for a pharmacist standing around for 14 hours, what they wear should be comfortable, that throws out dress shoes and slacks since most slacks are pretty damn uncomfortable especially if you're overweight.

Throw a pharmacist into an uncomfortable environment, they are going to start making mistakes. Personally, the dress shirt, tie, slacks make me sweat to hell, especially when they crank up the heat just because its 30 degrees outside(which is quite comfortable, I still drive around with the windows down).

sorry but that is ridiculous. Jeans do not give the appearance of professionalism. My partner and I are always dressed professionally (pressed shirt, tie, and slacks) and believe me the patients do notice. To me, wearing jeans just give the "appearance" of laziness and we all now how appearance is perceived by the public. Im surprised the DM's havent been in there to put a stop to "jeans".

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I am surprised too. DMs are really strict about this. In fact, I feel bad when the pharmacy manager gets into trouble because we did not dress professionally (DM > pharmacy manager). When I was an intern, I dressed professionally just to avoid bothering my pharmacist.

It is really a no brainer. You wearing jeans violate company policy, gives your supervising pharmacist and pharmacy manager extra work load: because they either have to confront the manager (to defend you) or get a yelling from the DM for not enforcing company policies.

On the other hand, you look better (subjective matter), and one pharmacist says it makes their patients feels more relaxed. . .

That's the thing with retail in general, everyone who is staff follows the guidelines/policies of that company regardless if you clean the toilets or have a doctorate. If policy says no jeans, then unfortunately it's no jeans.

I agree with WVUPharm and would recommend most Pharmacists to think twice about working retail. Retail setting/corporate structure does minimize the importance of your Professional Degree(Doctorate). You will deal with incompetent, ignorant managers bossing you around as well as every single retail nightmare you could imagine.

It comes with the territory....retail pharmacy is not cut out for everyone. You have to have tough skin, A LOT of patience, positive attitude, and a "go with the flow" kind of mentality.

I've been an Assistant Mgr for 3 years for Walgreens, and I am applying to Rx School in August. I don't believe I will be going back to retail Pharmacy after I graduate Pharmacy School. I can handle it, but I personally want to pursue a different route with my Doctorate Degree.

That's the thing with retail in general, everyone who is staff follows the guidelines/policies of that company regardless if you clean the toilets or have a doctorate. If policy says no jeans, then unfortunately it's no jeans.

I agree with WVUPharm and would recommend most Pharmacists to think twice about working retail. Retail setting/corporate structure does minimize the importance of your Professional Degree(Doctorate). You will deal with incompetent, ignorant managers bossing you around as well as every single retail nightmare you could imagine.

It comes with the territory....retail pharmacy is not cut out for everyone. You have to have tough skin, A LOT of patience, positive attitude, and a "go with the flow" kind of mentality.

I've been an Assistant Mgr for 3 years for Walgreens, and I am applying to Rx School in August. I don't believe I will be going back to retail Pharmacy after I graduate Pharmacy School. I can handle it, but I personally want to pursue a different route with my Doctorate Degree.

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and in hospitals one deals with ignorant, incompetent nurses and doctors...it works both ways

It comes with the territory....retail pharmacy is not cut out for everyone. You have to have tough skin, A LOT of patience, positive attitude, and a "go with the flow" kind of mentality.

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Right, my take away message with retail was that the reason you get paid pretty well was, that, in ADDITION to being a pharmacist, the occupational hazards that come with it are also included in your pay.

Kind of like how you get hazard/separation pay if you're in the Army and are involved in dangerous missions overseas. In the case of retail (arguably another form of a battlefield), that pay is built-in.

And on that note, even though I think people should be wearing jeans all around...you probably don't want to be fighting management/DM's over that. It IS company policy and every manager can simply say, "It's not up to me, my ass is on the line if someone from corporate shows up and you're in jeans."

CYA....cover your ass, that's what your managers are simply doing, and that's what you should be doing whether you're an MD or a janitor.

Right, my take away message with retail was that the reason you get paid pretty well was, that, in ADDITION to being a pharmacist, the occupational hazards that come with it are also included in your pay.

Kind of like how you get hazard/separation pay if you're in the Army and are involved in dangerous missions overseas. In the case of retail (arguably another form of a battlefield), that pay is built-in.

And on that note, even though I think people should be wearing jeans all around...you probably don't want to be fighting management/DM's over that. It IS company policy and every manager can simply say, "It's not up to me, my ass is on the line if someone from corporate shows up and you're in jeans."

CYA....cover your ass, that's what your managers are simply doing, and that's what you should be doing whether you're an MD or a janitor.

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I keep extra clothes in my car just in case, that's what I call covering my ass. If someone spots a high company official, they call us up, allowing us to sneak out the back and get our clothes.

However, I think this has resulted in corporate hiring the "secret shoppers" to go snoop around.

Right, my take away message with retail was that the reason you get paid pretty well was, that, in ADDITION to being a pharmacist, the occupational hazards that come with it are also included in your pay.

Kind of like how you get hazard/separation pay if you're in the Army and are involved in dangerous missions overseas. In the case of retail (arguably another form of a battlefield), that pay is built-in.

I keep extra clothes in my car just in case, that's what I call covering my ass. If someone spots a high company official, they call us up, allowing us to sneak out the back and get our clothes.

However, I think this has resulted in corporate hiring the "secret shoppers" to go snoop around.

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Oh I never heard about the secret shoppers....I kept a tie in the back, since apparently the guys are supposed to wear ties. Our PIC just said to keep it on hand.

I figure, no way in hell am I wearing a tie if I'm making less than $20/hr. Do you seriously expect your minimum wage clerks to to wear a tie? I never did, even with a DM there, never had anyone tell me anything. Maybe cuz I kick ass. hahah

Yeah but they are usually only judging the level of service, like if you're nice or not.

I'm not going to wear khakis or slacks, but I'll wear scrubs with the white coat, which should be a much safer bet.

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Why would you even consider wearing scrubs to a CVS?

Now that you're enrolled in a professional school you should be holding yourself to that standard. Getting into pissing contests with low-level store managers about what clothes you're wearing is going to do nothing other than hold you back. I know jeans are more comfortable, but just suck it up and put on the slacks. Your patients will certainly think more of you, and so will your coworkers.

I work for CVS in the same district as you, and after the shakeups that are going on, I'd try to keep a low profile. Just some friendly advice.

What about dress shorts? I work in a hospital and my manager recently put a quash on wearing shorts of any kind. I agree gym shorts are inappropriate, but I think dress shorts should be included in proper attire. I'm running around all the time anyways while they sit on their fat ***es discussing useless policies that have little to no implication in the way we do business, so I'm always warmer than everyone else. Besides, my legs get lots of Christmas goodies for the department, so this year no chocolate for them !

This is the typical example of why pharmacists leave retail setting and look for another job elsewhere. Just imagine you go thru school 7-8 yrs, get a DOCTORATE degree Pharm.D and now you are working "together" with some high school drop out assistant manager/manager. That's fine with me as long as that dude/dudee acts cool and considerate. However, respect is important, especially when you go thru this far and being treated with little/no respect by not-same-level people, that is a NO-NO.

But on the other hand, i have to admit that wearing jean to pharmacy workplace is not recommended/discouraged due to the image of public viewing us as healthcare providers. I work in the hospital...everyone already knows who i am; though i don't wear a smack with a big encrypted Pharm.D across my white coat, still i dress up nicely and neat with long sleeve shirt/pant to work....

This is the typical example of why pharmacists leave retail setting and look for another job elsewhere. Just imagine you go thru school 7-8 yrs, get a DOCTORATE degree Pharm.D and now you are working "together" with some high school drop out assistant manager/manager. That's fine with me as long as that dude/dudee acts cool and considerate. However, respect is important, especially when you go thru this far and being treated with little/no respect by not-same-level people, that is a NO-NO.

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Respect is earned, not given. Obtaining a PharmD (or any degree for that matter) does not equate to getting "instant respect" from ANYBODY.

Now that you're enrolled in a professional school you should be holding yourself to that standard. Getting into pissing contests with low-level store managers about what clothes you're wearing is going to do nothing other than hold you back. I know jeans are more comfortable, but just suck it up and put on the slacks. Your patients will certainly think more of you, and so will your coworkers.

I work for CVS in the same district as you, and after the shakeups that are going on, I'd try to keep a low profile. Just some friendly advice.

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Exactly. I was thinking about the same thing. I work in NYC area/Long Island. It is stupid to fight over a dress code where the rules are stated and posted. People are getting fired (all 6th years intern that did not sign will get fired), hours are being cut, and DM and pharmacy supervisors are paying more attentions to detail.

I mean your alternative is to leave and looking at the economy, it will be hard for you to find a job in another sector since dressing up professionally applies to all pharmacy jobs.

You wear jeans to the pharmacy, you are going home to change. It's that simple. Honestly, I dont give a damn about anyones comfort level or its to hot, or Im fat or whatever...All i care about is the perception of the customers. If you cant afford slacks or a shirt or a tie, i'll will help you out a bit... I have before! Pressed shirts,tie and slacks and people tend to react a little better than some unshaven douchebag in jeans. I honestly dont care about any company policy. I already have to deal with mean people upset about something and the last thing I need is a complaint about someone in the pharmacy wearing jeans...because im sure it has happened. Suck it up, be a professional, and just wear the shirt, tie and slacks.

people tend to react a little better than some unshaven douchebag in jeans.

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On a personal level girls have said I look better with scruff, aka unshaven. So I'd definitely show up to your pharmacy "unshaven". I only shave a couple of times per week, although I could shave every day. I don't wear jeans to work though.

On a personal level girls have said I look better with scruff, aka unshaven. So I'd definitely show up to your pharmacy "unshaven". I only shave a couple of times per week, although I could shave every day. I don't wear jeans to work though.

It's that simple. Honestly, I dont give a damn about anyones comfort level or its to hot, or Im fat or whatever....

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I think ties are overrated. Whats wrong with wearing a nice polo and dockers, I have my white coat on anyways. I just don't see how a tie has to mean professionalism. Yes I agree jeans are a little too casual but whats wrong with business casual?

I work for CVS in AZ and the dress code is coming from people in RI. Have you ever tried to wear a long sleve shirt and tie in 115 degree weather. Now if CVS kept their pharmacy cool maybe it wouldn't be such an issue but it seemed like this summer they were really saving on energy, I was sweating and I had short sleeves on. CVS doesn't allow you to control the tempature in the pharmacy or store, there is no thermostat you can adjust it is all controled centrally.

I dunno all the CVS stores I worked at the front management pretty much leaves the pharmacy alone.

However, my brother in law in IL who is a Pepsi field manager, goes around to stores taking orders and making sure everything is alright, asked me why all the CVS managers are so uptight. He says everyone else on his route is laid back, friendly and trusts him, but the CVS managers are not friendly and is always double checking and counting his orders.

I know corporate is always breathing down their necks, so maybe they hate their jobs.

I think ties are overrated. Whats wrong with wearing a nice polo and dockers, I have my white coat on anyways. I just don't see how a tie has to mean professionalism. Yes I agree jeans are a little too casual but whats wrong with business casual?

I work for CVS in AZ and the dress code is coming from people in RI. Have you ever tried to wear a long sleve shirt and tie in 115 degree weather. Now if CVS kept their pharmacy cool maybe it wouldn't be such an issue but it seemed like this summer they were really saving on energy, I was sweating and I had short sleeves on. CVS doesn't allow you to control the tempature in the pharmacy or store, there is no thermostat you can adjust it is all controled centrally.

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ahh, yeah, I live in clearwater fl and I do work for CVS and still wear a tie everyday... I guess to each their own...

I dunno all the CVS stores I worked at the front management pretty much leaves the pharmacy alone.

However, my brother in law in IL who is a Pepsi field manager, goes around to stores taking orders and making sure everything is alright, asked me why all the CVS managers are so uptight. He says everyone else on his route is laid back, friendly and trusts him, but the CVS managers are not friendly and is always double checking and counting his orders.

I know corporate is always breathing down their necks, so maybe they hate their jobs.